But there’s more to this day than Abel’s ceremony. Sunday is a moment to honor her mother (Dee) and aunt (Debbie Bird), both of whom are breast cancer survivors, as the program stages its 12th-annual Pink Zone Game at Mackey Arena.

“It’s fitting,” Abel said. “They’ve done so much for me and as much as Senior Day is about me, but it’s also about the people that got me to where I am today. It’s fitting to have them both on the same day.”

Before tipoff, McLaughlin will glance into the Mackey Arena crowd and find her grandmother. All will be right once she makes eye contact.

“I always take a glance up there and she always has a smile on her face. I always make sure she’s here and I’m good to go,” she said.

Here’s a look at who some of the Boilermakers are playing for Sunday:

Lyndsey Whilby

I play for:Alyssia Crittenden (Lecie).

Why? She had leukemia a couple of years back but she’s fine now. She’s always been close to me. She’s from Georgia and she’s one of my best friends.

What has she taught you? Never give up. There’s going to be hard days – there were days I went to the hospital and she was crying, and she was miserable and there were other days she was happy and smiling. Tough days don’t last forever.

What’s the best way to honor her? Just play as hard as I can and motivate my team and try to help my team as best as I can.

What should people know about Lecie? She loved volleyball. She was probably going to go on a full-ride scholarship. In the hospital, we tossed the volleyball around. She cherished every moment that she could. She’s happy all the time, friendly, very charismatic. She always cares about people. She asks about you before she talks about herself. She’s outgoing. There’s no reason not to like her.

Kayana Traylor

I play for: Aunt Debby (Traylor). She had cervical cancer six years ago.

Why is she important to you? All my family is pretty close. My mom has four sisters and they all love and support each other. She’s helped me through a lot. I want to let her know that even though she did defeat it and her fight is over, she is still an inspiration to me.

What have you learned from her? Things are going to be bad sometimes but you have to keep trusting God and pushing through it and fighting all the time.

What’s the best way to honor her? I’m looking forward to Sunday. I plan on writing her name on my shoes. I haven’t played in a cancer game and this is a unique opportunity.

Did her situation prompt you to get involved in cancer awareness events? I didn’t think about it until it hit close to home. I feel like since I know someone personally who went through that, it’s easier now for me to realize how serious it is and to be there for anyone going through it. It’s opened my eyes.

Karissa McLaughlin

I play for: Grandma (Phyllis) McLaughlin and Grandma (Becky) Whitaker. Both had breast cancer. I never met Grandma McLaughlin. She died the same year I was born. Grandma Whitaker is a five-year survivor.

What have you learned about your grandmothers? Everyone tells me my dad is so much like her and has similar features. She was a fighter. And seeing Grandma Whitaker go through that and seeing the fight she had every single day, she was always more worried about us than she was about herself, which is humbling to see someone who is fighting for their life every day and yet they’re still focused on people around them. It was very inspiring to see someone in the shape they’re in still have so much life and happiness.

Is Grandma Whitaker a regular at your games? She’s come to about every game and when she didn’t it, she was getting treatment or wasn’t feeling the greatest that day. She made a pact that she was going to make it to the games and be there for me. She’s been such an inspiration my entire life. She’s also impacted me on my faith side. She’s a big Christian.

What’s the best way to honor them? It’s not always about the points but it’s about going out there and playing hard, playing inspired and making sure I’m getting my team going and making sure everyone does their thing and being the leader I was made to be.

Cassidy Hardin

I play for: Everyone who’s ever had to fight cancer but also my uncle, Lance Brockmann, who had non-Hodgkins and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Why? We’re all very close and I see them all the time and he’s always been super supportive of me in basketball. He watches me when he can. To use this game to honor him in the ways he’s touched my life is going to be special.

What has he taught you? Not to take everything so seriously and to have fun with life while you have it. You’re blessed with what you have and everything that God has given you.

What’s the best way to honor him? Give it my all for my team and go out there and do everything that I can to ensure we get a win.

Tamara Farquhar

I play for: My coaches (Sharon Versyp, Beth Couture and Terry Kix. Versyp and Couture have battled breast cancer and Kix is a survivor of stomach cancer).

Why? I think they’re a big impact in all of our lives, especially since we’re around then so often and to see them bounce back from something that was so difficult in their lives is inspiring.

How do they inspire you? Being a coach isn’t easy. We have three-hour practices every day and it’s hard for the players but it’s hard for them as well because they invest so much of their time.

How is what they’ve been through impacted you? It shows it’s very good to be a fighter and it’s a big example for the people you are around. It could be easy just to say, ‘I give up. This is something that’s bigger than me.’ They have shown that doesn’t have to be the case and that’s not always what your fate has to be.

What’s the best way to honor them? Just playing hard. Obviously, we would like to play well and score a lot of points and be the best we can be but that’s not always the case. Just playing with heart and showing we’re capable of being a team and playing hard for our coaches is going to be a great thing for them.

Abby Abel

I play for: My mom (Dee Abel) and my aunt (Debbie Bird). Both had breast cancer.

Why? My mom got diagnosed when I was in high school and it was an ongoing battle. Just to see, no matter where she was, she was at every game front and center against doctors’ orders at times. Her support meant the world to me. She’s been a hero of mine. My aunt got diagnosed my junior year of college. My mom was there for her and I understand what they went through and I got to see it and I know how hard they had to fight.

What have you learned from them? It can always be worse because every day isn’t guaranteed and that was put in perspective when they were diagnosed. To take advantage of every opportunity and not take life for granted.

What’s the best way to honor them? The biggest thing is making sure they feel appreciated. I’m always reaching out to them because they do so much for me. To be able to give back to them and Sunday is all about them.

What has it mean to have those two in the stands supporting your career: It means a lot to know how much they’ve been there for me. Just to see their fight and to be there for them every step of the way, I love to just give back to them because it’s such a big deal. Sometimes, it gets overlooked. It means the world to have them there for my special day as well.